RISE Volunteer Program in Youth Mental Health

Sponsored by the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Columbia University Irving Medical Center

The RISE (Research, Inclusion, and Science Education) Program is dedicated to creating a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of future mental health providers and researchers. Our mission is to educate and train first-generation college students, economically disadvantaged individuals, and those from marginalized communities to promote diversity in the mental health field.

Our Mission

The goal of the RISE Program is to build a diverse and equitable workforce in mental health research and clinical practice.

Key Objectives:

  • Support underrepresented groups in successfully matriculating into graduate programs in mental health-related fields.
  • Enable participants to develop essential skills in youth mental health and create pathways to graduate school or full-time research coordinator roles.
  • Diversify the mental health workforce, creating a more inclusive future for both research and clinical care.
  • Promote the development of inclusive leadership skills among program mentors, ensuring effective support for a diverse cohort.

Program Components

  • Commitment: Volunteers commit to 10 hours per week of on-site work (at least one day a week) and remote work, running from September to June.
  • Recruitment: Participants are selected from colleges with a high enrollment of individuals from underrepresented groups in the mental health workforce. Current partners include Hunter College and St. Francis College's C-STEP program.
  • Stipend: Volunteers receive a $2,500 stipend
  • Supervision: Volunteers are directly supervised by Principal Investigators (PIs) and Research Coordinators, providing hands-on mentorship and guidance.
  • Research Projects: Volunteers contribute to research on youth mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, substance abuse, and more, working with MRI scans, EEG, clinical interviews, and neuropsychological assessments.
  • Program Orientation: In August, we host an orientation day featuring program introductions, lab partner presentations, career panels, and training on topics like cultural humility and motivational interviewing.
  • Mentorship: Each volunteer is paired with a mentor outside their lab, meeting at least five times during the year.
  • Professional Development: Volunteers attend quarterly check-ins with program directors to assess progress and receive additional training on career skills.
  • Peer Group Activities: Volunteers engage in quarterly peer group mentorship activities, fostering a sense of community within the program.

The intended outcomes of RISE are to:

  • Support graduate school admission: Help participants navigate the path to graduate programs in mental health fields.
  • Transition to paid research positions: Provide hands-on experience that improves volunteer employability in the mental health research field.
  • Diversify the research workforce: Build a more inclusive and representative research community.
  • Develop inclusive leadership: Equip mentors with skills to better support and guide a diverse group of young scholars.

Program Leadership

The RISE Program was originally created by Christine Dufresne and Martine Fontaine, who both served as co-directors for the inaugural 2023-2024 cohort. As of the 2024-2025 cohort, Martine Fontaine is the sole program director. She continues to lead the program, ensuring its growth and success while overseeing all aspects of RISE, including recruitment, mentorship, professional development, and partnerships. In 2024, Hannah Leo joined as the Program Coordinator, where she supports the daily operations of the program. Working closely with Martine, Hannah helps ensure the smooth coordination of activities, events, and communication with participants and partners.

Cohorts

2023-2024

  • Sajida Ahmed
  • Lorena De La Rosa
  • Rifah Saima
  • Kaitlyn San Martin

2024-2025

  • Solange Arias
  • Maxine Guttmann
  • Farah Hussain
  • Sahra Lim
  • Shannon Alvira

How to Get Involved

For Colleges

We welcome colleges with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion to partner with us in providing opportunities for students from groups underrepresented in the mental health workforce to gain valuable research experience in the mental health field.

For Mentors

Join us in shaping the future of youth mental health by offering your guidance, expertise, and mentorship to our program participants. Your support will empower the next generation of researchers to succeed in this critical field.

For Funders & Partners

Your partnership helps ensure that diverse voices are included in the future of mental health care and research. Together, we can make a lasting impact on both the academic and clinical landscapes of youth mental health.

Contact Us

For more information about the RISE Program or to get involved, please reach out to:

Email: dcap.inclusion@nyspi.columbia.edu

Phone: (646)-774-6072

Address: Herbert Pardes Building, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10032